Inherent healing accelerator

Abstract

A process and device for improved healing of large avulsed or burned tissue which prevents excessive cicatricial, keloid or fibromatoid formation, reduces fluid loss, and increases protection from infection by employing an elastomer matrix; i.e., a thin sheet of elastomer with a plurality of fenestrations, placed on the wound and a bath of oil to cover the matrix. The oil bath is provided by a flexible sealed capsule of thin silicone elastomer, preferably filled with soybean oil that percolates through the walls of the capsule. Enhanced granulation tissue formation is promoted by encapsulation of the wound with the matrix. Granulation tissue engulfs the matrix while the matrix integrity and elastic rigidity acts to reduce scarring. The barrier of the sterile soybean oil bath and the barrier of the elastomer matrix improve antisepsis and acts to reduce loss of body fluids. The matrix encourages the generation of granulation tissue since the matrix appears to the body as a foreign object that the body tries to reject.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A dressing for open wounds, comprising an elastomer sheet having a plurality of fenestrations, wherein said fenestrations comprise openings penetrating through said elastomer sheet whereby granulation tissue may grow from the open wound through said fenestrations so as to substantially cover said elastomer sheet; wherein each of said fenestrations comprise a maximum dimension of around 4 millimeters to around 6 millimeters. 
     
     
       2. The dressing of claim  1  wherein each of said fenestrations comprise a maximum dimension of around 5 millimeters. 
     
     
       3. The dressing of claim  1  wherein said elastomer sheet comprises silicone elastomer. 
     
     
       4. The dressing of claim  1  wherein said fenestrations comprise around 40% to around 60% of the surface area of said elastomer sheet. 
     
     
       5. The dressing of claim  4  wherein said fenestrations comprise around 50% of the surface area of said elastomer sheet. 
     
     
       6. A composite dressing for open wounds, comprising an elastomer sheet having a plurality of fenestrations; and an oil bath, wherein said fenestrations comprise openings penetrating through said elastomer sheet whereby granulation tissue may grow from the open wound through said fenestrations so as to substantially cover said elastomer sheet; wherein said oil bath comprises a capsule containing a triglyceride oil, said capsule having walls permeable to said triglyceride oil. 
     
     
       7. The composite dressing of claim  6  wherein said walls of said capsule comprise silicone elastomer. 
     
     
       8. The composite dressing of claim  7  wherein said triglyceride oil comprises soybean oil. 
     
     
       9. The composite dressing of claim  6  wherein said fenestrations comprise around 40% to around 60% of the surface area of said elastomer sheet. 
     
     
       10. The composite dressing of claim  9  wherein said fenestrations comprise around 50% of the surface area of the elastomer sheet. 
     
     
       11. The composite dressing of claim  6  wherein each of said fenestrations comprise a maximum dimension of around 4 millimeters to around 6 millimeters. 
     
     
       12. The composite dressing of claim  6  wherein each of said fenestrations comprise a maximum dimension of around 5 millimeters. 
     
     
       13. The composite dressing of claim  6  wherein said elastomer sheet comprises silicone elastomer. 
     
     
       14. A method of promoting healing of open wounds with reduced scarring, comprising the steps of: 
       covering said open wound with a composite dressing comprising an elastomer sheet having a plurality of fenestrations, said fenestrations comprising openings penetrating through said elastomer sheet, and an oil bath; and  
       allowing granulation tissue to grow through said fenestrations until said elastomer sheet is substantially covered by said granulation tissue.  
     
     
       15. The method of claim  14  wherein said oil bath comprises a capsule containing a triglyceride oil, said capsule having walls permeable to said triglyceride oil. 
     
     
       16. The method of claim  14  wherein said walls of said capsule comprise silicone elastomer. 
     
     
       17. The method of claim  16  wherein said triglyceride oil comprises soybean oil. 
     
     
       18. The method of claim  16  wherein said fenestrations comprise around 40% to around 60% of the surface area of the elastomer sheet. 
     
     
       19. The method of claim  18  wherein said fenestrations comprise around 50% of the surface area of the elastomer sheet. 
     
     
       20. The method of claim  14  wherein each of said fenestrations comprise a maximum dimension of around 4 millimeters to around 6 millimeters. 
     
     
       21. The composite dressing of claim  20  wherein each of said fenestrations comprise a maximum dimension of around 5 millimeters. 
     
     
       22. The method of claim  14  wherein said elastomer sheet comprises silicone elastomer.